intentar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
intentar — to try
The imperfect subjunctive of intentar uses the preterite stem: intentara, intentaras, intentara, intentáramos, intentarais, intentaran.
intentar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use this for hypothetical 'if' situations (If I tried...) or when a past request/wish was made (I wanted you to try).
Notes on intentar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Intentar is regular. The stem comes from the third-person plural preterite (intentaron), dropping the -on.
Example Sentences
Si yo intentara correr un maratón, me cansaría pronto.
If I tried to run a marathon, I would get tired soon.
yo
Mis padres querían que nosotros intentáramos el piano.
My parents wanted us to try the piano.
nosotros
Si tú intentaras estudiar más, sacarías mejores notas.
If you tried to study more, you would get better grades.
tú
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on intentáramos.
Correct: intentáramos
Why: The 'nosotros' form of the imperfect subjunctive always requires an accent on the vowel before the -ramos ending.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: intento
Intentar is a regular -ar verb in the present: intento, intentas, intenta, intentamos, intentáis, intentan.
Preterite
yo: intenté
The preterite of intentar is regular: intenté, intentaste, intentó, intentamos, intentasteis, intentaron.
Imperfect
yo: intentaba
The imperfect of intentar follows the regular -ar pattern: intentaba, intentabas, intentaba, intentábamos, intentabais, intentaban.
Future
yo: intentaré
The future of intentar uses the infinitive plus endings: intentaré, intentarás, intentará, intentaremos, intentaréis, intentarán.
Conditional
yo: intentaría
The conditional of intentar is formed by adding -ía endings to the infinitive: intentaría, intentarías, intentaría, intentaríamos, intentaríais, intentarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: intente
The present subjunctive of intentar swaps the -a for -e: intente, intentes, intente, intentemos, intentéis, intenten.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: intenta
The imperative of intentar gives commands: intenta (tú), intente (usted), intentad (vosotros).
Negative Imperative
yo: no intentes
The negative imperative of intentar uses 'no' plus the present subjunctive: no intentes, no intente, no intentemos, no intentéis, no intenten.